School stabbing at Karabar

THE victim of an alleged stabbing at Karabar High School remains in Canberra
Hospital after undergoing surgery for his injuries on Wednesday afternoon.

The youth, who cannot be identified, suffered wounds to his abdomen and
thigh during the alleged attack which took place in the school's lunchbreak on
Tuesday.

His condition following surgery was unknown as of The Queanbeyan
Age going to press yesterday afternoon. A second teenager, who also cannot
be named, has been charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm
following the incident and appeared in Queanbeyan Children's Court on Wednesday
morning.

The Canberra Times is reporting that the youth was referred for a
mental health assessment and will be held for treatment if found to be mentally
ill or returned to court if not. The teenager remains in police custody.

The
incident took place at Karabar High's Donald Road campus on Tuesday afternoon
with paramedics arriving on the scene at 12.45pm, followed shortly by police.
Speaking to The Times, Queanbeyan Police duty officer Inspector Christopher
Varley said the alleged attacker had already been detained by teachers when
police arrived at the school.

"I've got to pay compliments to teaching
staff... and the professional job they did to control the incident and contain
the young man involved,'' Inspector Varley said. "He was basically with the
school staff when we arrived.''

Inspector Varley said the attack had been
witnessed by several students as it had occurred during lunch time."A number
of students were in the vicinity at the time and of course witnessed what
occurred,'' he said.

A number of police combed the school's grounds following
the incident while counselling has already been provided to distressed students
at the school.

When contacted by The Queanbeyan Age Karabar High refused to
comment publically on the incident.